Riding American Rails, Part 2: Into the Texan Dark

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Our time in Austin was often spent with friends quick to remind us that the liberally progressive city was an oasis in the great conservative state of Texas. Now that we share our dinner tables and the sightseeing lounge with those from all over this state I can much more clearly see the Republican colors shining through, and primarily those conversations revolve around mistrust in Obama.

As an Obamaniac myself, it’s a little disheartening to hear the President-elect bashed at every turn, but at least I’m getting plenty of exposure to that unmistakably Texan accent I found Austin was sorely lacking for.

The train is slow and tonight, only 6:30pm, is long, but I cherish these times spent with the boy and in conversation with my fellow traveling strangers. If Thanksgiving is nothing else, it’s a mass migration, people flocking to find family wherever they may originate, and that always makes for a good conversational stomping ground.

Published: November 25, 2008Updated: June 2, 2018

Nathan is the Editor-in-Chief around these parts, and has been traveling by train, bike, VW Bus and Airstream since 2008. He's on Instagram.

Discussion

What’s funny or sad, when I was growing up, Texas was overwhelmingly Democrat. Granted, it was conservative Democrat (or Dixiecrats, as they were sometimes called), but we did have our liberals, like Ralph Yarbrough and Henry B. Gonzales who ably represented the state. Now, except for Austin, the whole damned state is full of Republicans who are right now bitching because Obama got elected. I don’t know why they are upset. It’s a frickin’ cinch he couldn’t make any bigger mess than Shrub did.